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Most Overrated Cosmetic Procedures

New cosmetic procedures often fail to live up to their original
promise. Some may even do harm. We investigate the innovations that you
might want to reconsider.

It wasn't so long ago that a woman with a desire to look younger,
slimmer, or simply better would huddle with her doctor in private. Now,
one demonstration of a new laser on the Today show, and phones are
ringing in dermatologists' and plastic surgeons' offices across the
country. More and more patients are demanding the latest treatments the
moment they hear about them on the news, in the salon, or over lunch
with their best friend. Here's the problem with this pioneer impulse:
Plastic surgery's past is crowded with operations that were rushed to
the public with insufficient testing, or that proved too painful, or
that simply weren't as effective as promised. Take it from us, the most
dangerous word in plastic surgery may be "new." And unlike making a
mistake by, say, buying a pair of jeggings that aren't entirely
flattering, cosmetic procedures are often irreversible. Here, a hard
look at the choices.